Device for securing a needle to a sewing machine and guiding the thread towards the needle eye



Oct. 11, 1966 o RT 3,277,854

DEVICE FOR SECURING A NEEDLE TO A SEWING MACHINE AND GUIDING THE THREAD TOWARDS THE NEEDLE EYE Filed Jan. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RAM! CAsAs- ROBERT BY W.

ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1966 R. CASAS-RQBERT 3,277,354 DEVICE FOR SECURING A NEEDLE TO A SEWING MACHINE AND GUIDING THE THREAD TOWARDS THE NEEDLE EYE Filed Jan. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 'i/ 7 ll INVENTOR R Am: c Asns- RoBERT ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1966 R. CASAS-ROBERT 3,277,854

DEVICE FOR SECURING A NEEDLE TO A SEWING MACHINE AND GUIDING THE THREAD TOWARDS THE NEEDLE EYE Filed Jan. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV ENT OR RANoH RSAS-PDBEIPT ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,277,854 DEVICE FOR SECURING A NEEDLE TO A SEWING MACHINE AND GUIDING THE THREAD TO- WARDS THE NEEDLE EYE Ramon Casas-Robert, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Mefina S.A., Frihourg, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed glan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 338,687 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Jan. 26, 1963, 966/63; Nov. 26, 1963, 14,482/63 12 Claims. (Cl. 112-226) The present invention relates to a device for securing a sewing machine needle to the needle bar and guiding the thread towards the eye of the needle. Such a device comprises broadly a collar fixed at the end of the needle bar, the collar being provided with a tapped bore for receiving a screw for securing the needle, the needle being engaged in a groove provided longitudinally in the central part of the needle bar. A pressure plate is interposed between the end of the screw and the needle, and the collar has a notch and a guide member for guiding the thread into said notch.

Numerous devices of the general type described above are known. However, these known devices have the disadvantage of either guiding the thread at too great a distance from the needle between the collar and the eye of the needle, or of directing the thread outside the axis of the needle. When sewing with such known devices and particularly when a fine thread such as nylon is used, jumped stitches frequently result.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the aforesaid disadvantages. It is characterized by the fact that the thread receiving opening in the collar comprises a groove cut obliquely in the collar, the axis of the groove passing substantially through a plane passing through the axis of the needle bar. The lower end of the groove nearest the axis of the needle bar, opens into the bore provided in the collar to receive the end of the needle bar. The guide member for the thread is secured in the groove and has at least one wing portion adapted to facilitate the engagement of the thread in the groove and behind the base or innermost end of the wing. The lower edge of the guide member is situated inwardly of the lower edge of the needle bar, in such a manner as to direct the thread as close as possible to the axis of the needle and toward a longitudinal groove the lower end of which terminates at the eye of the needle.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged front elevation of the device for securing the needle and guiding the thread.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the device of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the guide plate shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line IV--IV of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line VV of FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are front and side elevations respectively of a second embodiment of the invention.

The device for securing the needle and guiding the thread towards the point thereof, includes a collar 1 fixed at the lower end of the needle bar 2. As is shown in FIGURE 5, the needle bar 2 is tubular and the collar 1 has a bore 3 permitting it to be engaged on the bar 2. The securing of the collar 1 at the end of the bar 2 is eifected by means of a screw 4 threaded in a tapped hole 5 provided in the collar 1. The point 6 of the screw engages in a hole 7 on the side of the tubular needle bar 2.

A plug 8 having a groove 9 adapted to receive the heel or inner end 10 of the needle 11 is disposed inside the needle bar 2.

The shape of the groove 9 (see FIGURE 4) is such that it only permits engagement of the needle 11 in a single predetermined position so that the flat part 12 on the inner end 10 of the needle comes into engagement against the face 13 of the groove 9.

The plug 8 is maintained in position in the needle bar 2 by means of a pin 14 engaged transversely in the needle bar 2 and plug 8. The pin 14 simultaneously provides an abutment for the inner end 19 of the needle. Plug 8 includes a transverse counter-sunk area 15 across the longitudinal groove 9. The counter-sunk area 15 is adapted to serve as a housing for a pressure plate 16 adapted to be tightened against the inner end 10 of the needle 11 by means of a tightening screw 17. The tightening screw 17 is threaded in a tapped bore 18 extending through the collar 1 and a lateral extension 19 thereof. When the screw 17 which has a head in the form of a wing 20 is being tightened, the point 21 of the screw 17 pushes the pressure plate 16 transversely against the inner end 10 of the needle 11 to secure it in the longitudinal groove 9.

It is to be noted that the extension 19 of the flange 1 is adapted to form a bearing for a socket 22 adapted to actuate oscillating sewing accessories controlled by the needle bar 2.

The guiding device for the thread includes a groove 23 cut obliquely in the collar 1, the axis of the groove passing through the plane of the axis of the needle bar 2. The lower end of the groove 23, nearest the axis of the needle bar 2, opens into the bore 3 provided in the collar 1 to receive the end of the needle bar 2 (see FIG- URE 2). The guide member further includes a plate 25 secured fixed in said groove 23 by riveting of the two opposed edges 26 of the groove 23 against the plate. The plate 25 has two wings 27 giving it the general form of an inverted T (see FIGURE 1). The collar 1 has a horizontal hollow area 28 adapted to receive said wings 27 with a slight degree of clearance. Moreover, the plate 25 has thread receiving notches 29 on its two lateral sides, which notches are disposed symmetrically relative to the base of the wings 27.

As is shown in particular in FIGURE 3, the lower edge 30 of the plate 25 is provided with a bulge or offset portion 31.

The edge 30 of the plate 25 is situated inwardly of the adjacent lower edge of the needle bar 2 and it may even be at a distance closer to the axis of the needle bar 2 and further from the bottom edge thereof (see FIGURE 2). The purpose of so locating the edge 30 of the plate 25 is to draw the thread 24 as close as possible to the axis of the needle, and towards the elongated groove 32 of each needle 11 and the eye 33 thereof which is located at the lower end of the groove.

The second embodiment of the device for securing the needle and guiding the thread towards it, shown in FIG URES 6 and 7, comprises the same principal elements which comprise the first embodiment in accordance with FIGURES 1 to 5. Similar members, in the two embodiments carry the same reference numerals.

The essential difference between the two embodiments is the replacement, in the second embodiment, of the plate 25 by a guide member for the thread 24 which guide member comprises a metallic wire 25a curved symmetrically on both sides of its central portion, so as to form two wings 27a extending outwardly therefrom. The upper end of guide member 25a is fixed in a hole 23a 3 pierced through the collar 1 in the extension of the upper part of the groove 23. A stamping 36 retains the member a in place in the hole 23a.

As is shown in FIGURE 6, the guide member 25a has the general form of an inverted T. The piece of metallic wire forming the lower portion 37 of the wings 27a, has a centrally located offset or bulge 38. The collar 1 has a horizontal hollow area 28 adapted to receive said wings 27a. This bulge 38 which is situated substantially in the plane of the adjacent side wall of the needle bar 2 (see FIGURE 7), is adapted to draw the thread 24 as near as possible to the axis of the needle and towards the elongated groove 32 of each needle 11 and the eye 33 thereof, which is located at the lower end of the groove.

The devices described above with respect to FIGURES 1 to 7 in the annexed drawings permit the securing of not only a single needle to the needle bar 2, but the securing of a double needle such as is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 6 and 7. It is usually when sewing by means of a double needle as shown in the last mentioned figures that difficulties are encountered with known securing and guiding devices. The passage of the two threads 24 and 24a used in this case has been illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 6 and 7. It can be seen, in the embodiment in accordance with FIGURES l and 2, that each thread 24, 24a respectively is engaged in the groove 23 between the upper edge thereof and the slotted parts 29 of the plate 25, said thread passing beneath the plate. The engagement of the thread under the plate 25 is effected by the transverse displacement of the thread between each wing 27 and the collar 1, due to the clearance provided between the hollow area 28 and the wings 27 In the second embodiment, according to FIGURES 6 and 7, it can be seen that each thread 24, 24a respectively is engaged in the groove 23 between the edge thereof and the corresponding base of the wing 27a. The engagement of the thread is effected by the transverse displacement thereof between each wing 27a and the collar 1, due to the clearance or space provided between the hollow area 28 and the wings 27a.

If the thread is of larger section than the space between the hollow area and the wing, the corresponding wing 27, or 27a, will flex sufficiently to permit the passage of the thread therebetween. The offset portions 31, 38 of the guide members 25, 25a over which thread 24 is drawn, direct the thread inwardly over the lower edge of said offset portions and toward the needle 11 so as to reduce the angle K (FIGS. 2 and 7) between the thread and needle to a minimum.

On the other hand, as is shown in FIGURE 1, the guiding device includes notches 29 and the lower edge 30 of the plate 25, and in FIGURE 6 includes the base or inner end of the wings 27a and the offset portion 38. In both cases, the guiding device permits drawing each thread 24 in the direction of the elongated groove 32 of the respective needle 11, which groove 32 leads directly to and abuts the eye 33. Thus, the strands 34 and 34a of the threads 24 and 24a are disposed substantially parallel to each other between the flange 1 and the respective eyes 33.

This disposition of the threads is particularly advantageous for sewing with a double needle, inasmuch as it prevents the formation of knots between the two threads 24 and 24a at the time of stitching, since each thread passes through a separate and distinct guide passage in the collar 1.

Although the guiding devices described above have their primary advantage when using a double needle, they also present distinct advantages when using a single needle.

In effect, even in the latter case, the thread 24 is also drawn a short distance from the heel of the needle 11 by the edge 30 (FIGURE 1). The bulge or offset 31 of edge 30 tends to displace the thread towards the center of the plate 25. Similarly, the bulge or offset 38 (FIGURE 6), tends to displace the thread towards the center of the member 25a. In both instances the thread is brought substantially into the plane of the elongated groove 32 in needle 11.

Various embodiments of the devices described above, with respect to the drawings, are possible, especially insofar as the general form of the collar 1 is concerned, the means of securing it at the end of the needle bar 2, as well as and the form of guide members 25, 25a. The guide members 25, 25a could also include a single wing 27, 27a respectively. Such a guide device would only be provided for guiding a single thread, that is to say stitching by means of a single needle. However, the device described with respect to the drawings is the preferred embodiment as it permits a universal use of the sewing machine not only for stitching with a single needle but also stitching with a double needle.

I claim:

1. A device for securing a needle to a sewing machine and guiding the thread toward the eye of the needle comprising:

(a) a needle bar having a longitudinal central opening for receiving the needle, said needle having a longitudinal guide groove, the lower end of which adjoins the eye of the needle,

(b) a collar secured to the needle bar and having a bore for receiving the end thereof, said collar having an obliquely extending groove passing through a plane which includes the axis of the needle bar and opening into said bore at its end nearest the axis of the needle bar, said collar also having a tapped hole and a tightening screw rotatable in said tapped hole for securing the needle in the needle bar,

(c) a guide member for guiding the thread towards the eye of the needle, said guide member secured in said obliquely extending groove and including at least one guide wing spaced from the obliquely extending groove for guiding thread into said last mentioned groove and toward the guide groove in the needle.

2. A device according to claim 1, including a needle engaging pressure plate within the needle bar and between the tightening screw and the needle.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is in the form of a plate and a bulge is located on the lower edge of the plate for guiding the thread to the central part thereof and toward the axis of the needle.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the plate is in the form of an inverted T, including two symmetrically disposed wings, and a horizontal hollow area is provided in said collar to freely receive said wings.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein a symmetrical notch is provided on both sides of the plate adjacent the edges of the obliquely extending groove in the collar, said notches providing two thread guiding passages for use with a double needle.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein the needle bar is tubular and has secured therein a plug in which said longitudinal central opening is located, said plug also having a transverse countersunk depression crossing the longitudinal central opening and housing said needle engaging pressure plate.

7. A device according to claim 1, including a lateral extension on said collar, said extension providing a hearing surface for oscillating sewing accessories controlled by the needle bar, said tapped hole being provided in said lateral extension.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is in the form of a metal wire bent to provide a vertically disposed body and pair of wings extending laterally therefrom, said obliquely disposed groove having an opening in the upper portion thereof, the upper part of the body of the guide member being secured in said opening.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which the wire guide member is in the form of an inverted T, and includes a bulge on the lower central part thereof, and a horizontal hollow area is provided in the collar to freely receive said wings.

10. A device for securing a needle to a sewing machine and for guiding the thread towards the eye of the needle comprising:

(a) a tubular needle bar, a plug member secured therein, said plug having a longitudinal central opening for engaging the needle, and also having a countersunk depression crossing the longitudinal central opening, said needle having a longitudinal guide groove, the lower end of which adjoins the eye of the needle,

(b) a collar having a bore and secured to the lower end of the needle bar, said collar having an obliquely extending groove passing through a plane which includes the axis of the needle bar and opening into the bore of the collar at its end nearest the axis of the needle bar, and also having a horizontal hollow area at the lower end of said groove,

(c) a lateral extension on said collar, providing a bearing surface for oscillating sewing accessories, said extension having a tapped hole and a tightening screw for securing the needle in the needle bar,

(d) a needle engaging pressure plate in the countersunk depression in the plug and between the tightening screw and the needle bar,

(e) and a guide member having two wings and in the form of an inverted T, centrally secured in the t5 obliquely extending groove with a lower edge thereof proximate the axis of the guide groove of the needle, said wings being freely received in the horizontal hollow area in the collar.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the guide member is in the form of a plate, a bulge in the lower edge of the plate for guiding thread to the central part thereof, said plate having symmetrical notches in both sides adjacent the edges of the obliquely disposed groove in the collar, and two thread guiding passages formed by said notches for use with a double needle.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the guide member is in the form of a metal wire, a bulge in the lower horizontal portion of the guide member for guiding thread toward the axis of the needle, said obliquely disposed groove having an opening in the upper portion thereof to receive the upper end of the vertical portion of said guide member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,950 8/1918 Onderdonk 112-226 2,691,951 10/1954 Hansen 112226 X 2,692,569 10/1954 Ketterer 112227 2,919,667 l/1960' Koenig 112-218 3,016,031 1/ 196-2 Szuba 1l2226 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SECURING A NEEDLE TO A SEWING MACHINE AND GUIDING THE THREAD TOWARD THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE COMPRISING: (A) A NEEDLE BAR HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CENTRAL OPENING FOR RECEIVING THE NEEDLE, SAID NEEDLE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GUIDE GROOVE, THE LOWER END OF WHICH ADJOINS THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE, (B) A COLLAR SECURED TO THE NEEDLE BAR AND HAVING A BORE FOR RECEIVING THE END THEREOF, SAID COLLAR HAVING AN OBLIQUELY EXTENDING GROOVE PASSING THROUGH A PLANE WHICH INCLUDES THE AXIS OF THE NEEDLE BAR AND OPENING INTO SAID BORE AT ITS END NEAREST THE AXIS OF THE NEEDLE BAR, SAID COLLAR ALSO HAVING A TAPPED HOLE AND A TIGHTENING SCREW ROTATABLE IN SAID TAPPED HOLE FOR SECURING THE NEEDLE IN THE NEEDLE BAR, (C) A GUIDE MEMBER FOR GUIDING THE THREAD TOWARDS THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE, SAID GUIDE MEMBER SECURED IN SAID OBLIQUELY EXTENDING GROOVE AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE GUIDE WING SPACED FROM THE OBLIQUELY EXTENDING GROOVE FOR GUIDING THREAD INTO SAID LAST MEMTIONED GROOVE AND TOWARD THE GUIDE GROOVE IN THE NEEDLE. 